PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kaoru Hanayama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bb Esko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hanayama
vs
Esko

187 cm
32
199 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

180 cm
27
203 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Decent wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Wolfpack Threadz

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kaoru Hanayama!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bb Esko!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Wagner Zegers and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Hanayama with that takedown attempt.
Esko goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Esko throws a head kick that misses.
Esko is looking to slow Hanayama down with leg kicks.
Hanayama checks a leg kick.

Hanayama shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hanayama showed some decent athleticism there.
Hanayama not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hanayama lands with a punch from half guard.
Hanayama content to control rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanayama working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanayama controlling the action here.
Hanayama not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Hanayama missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hanayama has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Esko is trying to stand back up but Hanayama is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hanayama seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hanayama throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Esko is not content to let Hanayama control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Esko misses with a kick to the body.
A head kick misses from Esko.
Esko lands with a kick to the ribs.
Esko comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Esko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hanayama looking to score a takedown here. Esko is defending well but Hanayama drives through and ends up in Esko's guard.
Esko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Esko being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Kaoru Hanayama has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Hanayama darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Esko tries to kick Hanayama off but Hanayama keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Well, if Hanayama is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Esko won't allow Hanayama to pass to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hanayama works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaoru Hanayama dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hanayama lands with a nice combination. Esko backs away looking to recover.
Esko looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Esko looks to land a right hand but Hanayama moved out of range.
Esko looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hanayama, as that shot connected.
Hanayama shoots in for a double leg but Esko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kaoru Hanayama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Esko enables Hanayama to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Esko manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Esko wants to stand but Hanayama is controlling the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hanayama with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hanayama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Esko can do anything to dispel that myth.
Esko keeping moving, preventing Hanayama from controlling successfully.
Hanayama passes Esko's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Esko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hanayama throws a strike but Esko avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama looking to pass the guard.
Hanayama throwing strikes but missing.
Hanayama postures up in Esko's guard and throws a big left but Esko blocks it.
Esko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hanayama advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama is taking a breather. Esko says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Esko is not content to let Hanayama control the position.
Hanayama slips a nice elbow through Esko's hands, connecting with Esko's forehead.
Hanayama performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Still in half guard, Hanayama seems content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kaoru Hanayama wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Esko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Esko tries a head kick but it misses.
That kick from Hanayama tenderised Esko's leg. Esko is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hanayama fails to land the takedown.

Hanayama looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaoru Hanayama dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Esko misses with an attempted mid kick.

Hanayama closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Esko's guard.
Esko keeping full guard, as Hanayama tries to pass.
Hanayama sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hanayama trying to control the position from guard on top but Esko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hanayama loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanayama postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kaoru Hanayama overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hanayama looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kaoru Hanayama just wasn't active enough.
Hanayama goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Esko throws a push kick but Hanayama slaps the foot to one side.
Hanayama shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Esko misses with a low kick.
Esko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hanayama manages to avoid it.
A head kick misses from Esko.

Hanayama scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Esko tries to kick Hanayama off but Hanayama keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hanayama looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Esko with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hanayama is controlling the pace.
Esko has hold of Hanayama's hands but Hanayama slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Hanayama looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hanayama is keen to just control but Esko is a slippery customer.
Hanayama stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama working over Esko with some ground and pound. Esko looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hanayama content to control rather than advance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kaoru Hanayama.
Donk. Hanayama catches Esko right on the button with a cross.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Esko on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hanayama. Hanayama obviously looking to wear him down.

Hanayama feints and as Esko raises his hands in defense, Hanayama changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hanayama accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaoru Hanayama clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hanayama drops Esko with a straight right hand, right on the button! Hanayama follows him down to the mat and pounds him out with hammerfists until the referee jumps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kaoru Hanayama!
Kaoru Hanayama is the new middleweight champion!
Our winner, Kaoru Hanayama, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.